Dubai - MENA Herald: Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) marked its presence as a strategic partner in the just-concluded 2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Club for the Disabled.
Convening 300 athletes from almost 30 countries around the world, the competition served as the final preparatory event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games that is set to take place in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro in September 2016.
Speaking on the participation, His Excellency Khaled Al Thani, Deputy Secretary General of AMAF, said: “We are proud to have supported this important sports event that was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. As a cornerstone of our strategic plan, AMAF is committed to increasing awareness of new developments and initiatives that are designed to empower individuals with special needs and provide them with opportunities to become key contributors to their communities.”
He added: “We are confident the 2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championships has further enhanced the capabilities of players seeking to compete in and qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this year. Given the high level of fitness and competitiveness on display, we also hope this event has succeeded in changing many preconceived notions about people with physical disabilities. We look forward to supporting special needs opportunities as they emerge in 2016 and beyond through similar partnerships.”
AMAF has launched several strategic initiatives to empower special needs individuals in society. Among its more prominent efforts is Dubai center for special needs building in Dubai’s Al Nahda area completed in cooperation with the Dubai Club for Special Sports as part of an AED109 million waqf project. With the help of government schools, the project offers quality medical care, as well as access to sports facilities and entertainment offerings to the differently abled towards fostering their holistic development and nurturing their innate strengths.
